A lifetime ambition, 24 hours away
In the year 2000 a British-born seven year-old sat at home in Germany glued to her TV watching the Sydney Olympics, dreaming that she would one day run for her country at the Olympics. Tomorrow she becomes an Olympian – but in a different sport and in the colours of France.
Published by John Birch, August 5th, 2016
3 minute read
(Photo: La Voix du Nord)
Sha’nnon Izar has been one of the most exciting and talented players since she burst onto the international rugby scene for France in 2013. But she was born in London in May 1993, and lived in Berlin until her teens. How did the RFU and DRV miss out on such a talent?
Her interest in sport was inspired by the Olympics: “I remember the Olympic Games in Sydney”, she told us. “I was 7 years old and I was stuck on the TV during the whole two weeks!”
But in was athletics that first attracted her. She was a heptathlete and, after moving to Tarn in the south of France, broke the Department’s record holder for the javelin as well as running just over eight seconds for the 60m when just 17. Her brother had taken up rugby by this time, but not Sha’nnon. “My mother flatly refused to allow me to play rugby”, she says, “but my parents promised me that when I became 18 I could do what I want."
Her chance came when she started a graphic design course at the University of Lille. Within little more than a year she not only started playing rugby with Lille (whose home ground is close to the university), but had been selected for France, first for student team in the 2012 World Championship, and very soon after the national team at both 7s and 15s.
Now, fresh from a commando training course in Martinique, she and her teammates are in the Olympic village preparing for tomorrow’s game
“At the moment the mood the French camp is very concentrated and we are all happy to be here. There is a great atmosphere. And I am playing with my friends.
“We have practiced with several competitions on the same schedule. It is very different, better for the recovery but more difficult for the concentration.
“The French team want to reach the podium - but I think we are not the only ones! If we could manage that it would mean a lot of things, but mostly an incommensurable joy!
“It is even more exciting that we are playing the first game of the tournament. It’s amazing, we have all heard so much about the Olympics - that it isthemain competition for an athlete - and now we are here!